CENTEGIX® | Education
Michigan School Safety Standards
CENTEGIX® | Education
Michigan School Safety Standards
CENTEGIX Webinar
Investing 31aa Funds with Confidence: A District Leader’s Perspective
Michigan’s 31aa funding gives districts a meaningful opportunity to strengthen school safety—but determining how to allocate those funds effectively isn’t always straightforward.
Watch our on-demand webinar for an in-depth session with Nick Russo, Superintendent of Rochester Community Schools, as he shares how his district is strategically allocating 31aa funds to drive meaningful safety outcomes. You’ll also hear from a representative from the Senator’s office on the intent behind the legislation and what it signals for districts across the state.
Michgan’s Section 31aa: Funding for School Safety Initiatives
In Senate Bill No. 166, the Michigan Legislature has appropriated its School Safety Funds for 2025-2026, with Section 31aa receiving $300 million from the State School Aid Fund and $21 million from the General Fund. Eligible applicants include districts, intermediate districts, nonpublic schools, and the Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind.
School safety initiatives that funds can be spent on include:
- Emergency response system
- Student Safety Management System
- Coordination with local law enforcement
- Training for school staff on threat assessment
- Training for school staff and students on threat response
- Safety infrastructure such as cameras, door blocks, hardened vestibules, and technology necessary to operate buzzer systems
- Training for school staff on crisis communication
- A secure platform for all school safety-related items, including EOP templates, reference documents, and security assessments
To recieve funding, districts will need to opt-in to the funding and agree to submit an expense report on how
the funds were spent by July 1, 2026.
An allowable expense under 31aa, the CENTEGIX Safety Platform® emergency response system is the leading, unified solution for managing the predicatble and unpredicatable moments of school safety.™
The CENTEGIX Safety Platform:
Enables a rapid response anywhere on campus
Immediately alerts campus responders with the push of a button.
Provides precise room and floor-level location information to first responders.
One-button activation enables users to easily and rapidly request help.
Intercom, strobe, and desktop notifications in the event of a lockdown.
Request a demonstration today to see for yourself how the CENTEGIX Safety Platform meets the safety initiative requirements of 31aa and can make a measurable impact on the safety and security of your district.
Michigan School Safety Task Force
In 2018, Michigan’s School Safety Task Force issued a set of wide-ranging and far-reaching final recommendations for making Michigan public schools safer. Governor Rick Snyder created the School Safety Task Force to ” identify structural and policy recommendations for collaboration, planning, and assessment of school infrastructure and safety policies.” The Task Force recommended that Michigan schools do the following:
- Conduct physical security assessments.
- Implement interior and exterior security measures.
- Implement Emergency Operations Planning (EOP) training.
- Meet state compliance requirements.
- Integrate state guidance regarding emergency drills, definitions of terms, and threats of violence.
- Define the roles of safety personnel in schools.
- Adopt the OK2SAY program, which encourages students to report information about suspicious behaviors, bullying, suicide threats, anxiety, drugs, etc.
- Increase training for safety and security staff.
- Award schools that foster safe environments.
- Increase collaboration among public health experts and educators.
- Implement student behavioral health screenings.
These recommendations underscore Michigan lawmakers’ focus on school safety in recent years. These measures range from addressing behavioral health concerns to instituting school safety curricula to requiring secure infrastructure. Learn more about the recommendations.
K-12 Behavioral Threat Assessment Training
In all of Michigan’s current and upcoming public school policies and legislation, focused attention on students’ mental health is a priority. Last year, the Michigan State Police Office of School Safety (MSP/OSS) hosted Michigan K-12 Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (Mi-BTAM) training free of charge. This training was intended for school-based threat assessment teams in K-12 public, charter, and private schools. This training taught teams to identify, engage, and work collaboratively with families and students to mitigate situational life factors contributing to thoughts of violence and aggression. Learn more here.
Competitive School Safety Grant Program Funds Safety Measures
The 2022 Competitive School Safety Grant Program (CSSGP) funds measures that fulfill the School Safety Task Force’s Recommendations. The Michigan Legislature appropriated $10 million for these measures. The Grants and Community Services Division (GCSD) of the Michigan State Police (MSP) awarded and administered these competitive grants. Eligible grantees included public schools, nonpublic schools, school districts, and intermediate school districts. These grants fund measures that improve the safety and security of students, staff, and school buildings. Specifically, the CSSGP supports purchasing safety and security technology and equipment. The program also provides funds for technology upgrades and improvements to existing systems.
Michigan legislators will continue to prioritize safety and security in schools. Governor Gretchen Whitmer proposed increased funding for the 2022-23 fiscal year to $66 million in school safety grants. This number equals the total amount of funding for school safety distributed since 2015. According to Whitmer, “with this historic proposal and my larger education budget, which includes resources to improve every kid’s in-class experience, build and renovate school facilities, and retain and recruit more teachers, we will invest in every school and every district across Michigan.” School districts across the state will be eligible for this increased funding.
Recommended Safety Measures
In 2020, the US Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS) convened a School Safety Working Group that identified ten essential actions schools, school districts, and law enforcement agencies can take to mitigate and prevent school violence. COPS also recommended actions to facilitate swift and effective law enforcement assistance when it is necessary. The Michigan Office of School Safety highlights the role of School Resource Officers and collaboration with law enforcement as essential elements of its approach to making schools safer. COPS guidance regarding school safety measures, therefore, informs their recommendations.
The COPS School Safety Working Group’s “ten essential actions” address both the physical safety and the emotional security of students and staff members:
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- comprehensive school safety assessment
- school climate
- campus, building, and classroom security
- anonymous reporting systems
- coordination with first responders
- behavior threat assessment and management
- school-based law enforcement
- mental health resources
- drills
- social media monitoring
These actions suggest that a school building’s physical security is directly related to the school community’s health. Increasingly, education leaders are making the case for security as a prerequisite for a robust learning environment.
2026 School Safety Funding Information
Recently signed, Michigan’s FY 2026 education budget includes record investments in school safety and mental health, creating a strong incentive and resource base for districts to modernize emergency response systems, threat-detection tools, and behavioral support programs.
This is the moment to act—your district can leverage these funds to meet legal obligations and safeguard your students and staff.
Here’s how Michigan is directing funds toward school safety and student well-being:
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$321 million allocated statewide for student mental health and school safety needs
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$200 million (up to) in school infrastructure funding
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Additional support for at-risk students, literacy, and wraparound services that reduce behavioral risk factors
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Boosted base funding gives districts more flexibility to allocate local dollars toward safety & compliance systems
These appropriations represent a once-in-a-cycle opportunity for districts to upgrade their safety architecture, meet compliance requirements, and deliver measurable impact.
Take Action Now: Leverage Your Safety Funds
This is a limited window in which to deploy safety and compliance systems using the state’s new funding. Don’t leave dollars on the table or scramble at year’s end.
- Audit your current safety and compliance readiness
- Map your district’s funding eligibility under Michigan’s FY 26 safety allocation
- Plan a phased rollout that meets both compliance and safety goals
- Deliver outcomes and justify future funding decisions with data
Get in touch today to learn how to leverage this funding to implement the CENTEGIX Safety Platform® in your district to help protect your staff and students and foster a culture of safety.
CENTEGIX & I Love U Guys Foundation: Aligned for Safer Schools
Michigan has taken an important step toward safer, more coordinated emergency response by requiring all public and nonpublic schools to implement the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) by the start of the 2026–27 school year. SRP, developed by the I Love U Guys Foundation, creates shared, plain-language actions that students, staff, and first responders can follow without confusion, no matter the emergency. The required SRP actions are Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter, each paired with clear directives that standardize what to do and what to say in a crisis.
CENTEGIX is aligned with the I Love U Guys Foundation’s mission and the SRP framework because our solutions are built to support rapid, reliable response. SRP works best when the right action can be initiated immediately and communicated clearly across a campus—and that’s exactly what CENTEGIX enables. With one-button activation and real-time, campus-wide notification, our platform helps schools quickly initiate the appropriate SRP response and deliver consistent language to staff, students, and responders. This strengthens training, improves drill effectiveness, and helps ensure that when seconds matter, everyone is operating from the same playbook Michigan now requires.
As districts prepare for the 2026–27 deadline, CENTEGIX offers a practical path to SRP readiness: helping schools operationalize the five actions through rapid alerting and notification, clear incident communication, and coordinated response across onsite teams and first responders. Whether the situation calls for a Hold in the classroom, a Secure perimeter, a Lockdown, an Evacuate with a specified location, or a Shelter directive, CENTEGIX supports the speed, clarity, and coordination SRP is designed to deliver. We’re honored to stand with Michigan schools and the I Love U Guys Foundation to make standardized, life-saving response a daily reality, not just a policy requirement.
Connect with a CENTEGIX specialist today to make sure your district has met the requirements for SRP readiness.
CENTEGIX | Webinar
Safe Schools Now: How CENTEGIX Champions Michigan’s New Safety Initiatives
In our recent webinar, we navigated the complexities of funding opportunities in Michigan. The webinar covered:
- An overview of Michigan’s School Safety Funding: Understand the scope, application process, and best practices for leveraging funds.
- Benefits of CrisisAlert: Learn how our wearable badge technology sets the standard in crisis response.
- Customer Insights: Get insights directly from Dr. Amy Kruppe, Superintendent of Hazel Park School District, about the district’s decision-making process and the impact of CENTEGIX.
Don’t miss these actionable insights to maximize the new funding to create a safer educational environment. View the on-demand webinar today.
Rep. Brenda Carter Introduces Alyssa’s Law: H.B. 4241
Last year, State Rep. Brenda Carter introduced House Bill 4241, also known as Alyssa’s Law, which would require all Michigan school buildings to be equipped with a panic alarm system to rapidly initiate lockdowns and instantly alert law enforcement of the emergency. Watch our video to learn more.
Federal Funding for Michigan School Safety Solutions
CENTEGIX | Case Study
North Branch Area Schools Improve Emergency Communication with CENTEGIX CrisisAlert™
After a tragedy took place at a nearby school district in late 2021, administrators at North Branch Area Schools knew they needed to do more to keep their staff and students safe—they needed a solution that would allow them to respond immediately.
Get the details on why North Branch Area Schools chose CENTEGIX CrisisAlert to close communication gaps, and then share with leaders, decision-makers, and other stewards of safety so they can see how we can help your district create a culture of safety.
Download your copy of the case study today.
CENTEGIX Blog
Alyssa’s Law in Michigan: What to Expect and How to Comply
Michigan schools can prepare to comply with Alyssa’s Law requirements by implementing school safety solutions that include wearable panic buttons that integrate with local first responder agencies. The CENTEGIX Safety Platform® meets and exceeds these requirements. The school alert system currently aids schools nationwide in complying with Alyssa’s Law and other legislative mandates.
Learn how to prepare your district for the future while reaping benefits today in our blog.
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No Cell Phone, No Service, No Wi-Fi—No Problem
A different approach to incident response. Because in a crisis, every second matters.
CENTEGIX Safety Report
2025 School Safety Trends: Together, Training and Technology Save Lives
Discover our latest, comprehensive analysis of school safety incidents gathered from the CENTEGIX Safety Platform® usage data for the 2024-2025 school year, as well as insights from the hundreds of school safety and district administration leaders we’ve connected with over the last 12 months, in our report 2025 School Safety Trends: Together, Training and Technology Save Lives.
Download your copy today.
Hear from Our Michigan Educators
We engage with teachers and staff every day to understand how CrisisAlert supports them, and here’s what they’ve shared:
I had a non-verbal student having a meltdown in the lunch room, I was unable to get her to leave with me. I used my Badge and 3 higher up staff members came to assist and get the other students out of the way. This device has been nothing but helpful to our whole school.
A student had a medical emergency in my classroom. If this situation had occurred before I had CrisisAlert, I wouldn’t be able to stay with the student. I think every school employee everywhere should have these.
We received training on the system. The support and trail of the system was easy and clear. We will run a drill for staff/students after the entire team is trained on the system. The system is created for expediency and ease of use, both of which are necessary in an emergency situation.
Championing Safe Schools with Educators and Educator Associations
Discover the Safety Platform
Safety solutions that prioritize speed for the best outcome.
Mapping and locating capabilities provide the precise location—of emergencies, visitors, and safety assets.
A visitor management system screens and locates visitors on your campus.
Protocol development to plan for rapid incident response.
CrisisAlert™ Is in a Class of Its Own
We don’t just raise the bar. We built it.
CrisisAlert leads the industry in wearable panic button technology. As the most trusted, proven, and deployed solution on the market, it delivers unrivaled reliability, redundancy, notification, and response capabilities.
Unlike other wearable panic buttons, CrisisAlert activates a fully integrated emergency response and notification system, including flashing strobes, intercom announcements, and computer screen takeovers. It’s the only solution with 100% campus-wide coverage that immediately sends a digital map to first responders with precise location details, down to the exact floor and room, detailing every safety asset in proximity of the alert, to protect your staff wherever they are.
In an Emergency, You Need CrisisAlert™
Adverse situations can happen at any moment—from everyday crises such as medical emergencies, severe weather, and physical altercations to extreme situations that threaten your entire campus. The faster you get help to the right location, the better the outcome.
See how our CrisisAlert wearable mobile panic button empowers staff to get help instantly in an emergency.
Empower Your Educators
with Safety
Explore More Safety Resources
Adoption Rate Matters: How the CENTEGIX Approach Drives Total Staff Adoption
The CENTEGIX Safety Platform onboarding process drives high adoption, reducing response times and fostering a culture of safety across industries.
How IT Leaders Meet Mandates Without Adding Risk: CENTEGIX’s Emergency Management System Strengthens Infrastructure
The CENTEGIX Safety Platform emergency management system empowers IT directors to achieve compliance and create a culture of safety.
From Decision to Deployment: Implementing the CENTEGIX Safety Platform Is Easier Than You Think
The CENTEGIX Safety Platform emergency management system includes a transparent, ongoing implementation and onboarding process to empower staff and create a culture of safety.
We didn’t build Safety Blueprint to meet the standard. We built it to set one.
Here is exactly how Safety Blueprint performs against every K-12 digital mapping legislative requirement, and where it goes further than the law currently asks.
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EVERY. SECOND. MATTERS.®
Explore More Safety Resources
Adoption Rate Matters: How the CENTEGIX Approach Drives Total Staff Adoption
The CENTEGIX Safety Platform onboarding process drives high adoption, reducing response times and fostering a culture of safety across industries.
How IT Leaders Meet Mandates Without Adding Risk: CENTEGIX’s Emergency Management System Strengthens Infrastructure
The CENTEGIX Safety Platform emergency management system empowers IT directors to achieve compliance and create a culture of safety.
From Decision to Deployment: Implementing the CENTEGIX Safety Platform Is Easier Than You Think
The CENTEGIX Safety Platform emergency management system includes a transparent, ongoing implementation and onboarding process to empower staff and create a culture of safety.
We didn’t build Safety Blueprint to meet the standard. We built it to set one.
Here is exactly how Safety Blueprint performs against every K-12 digital mapping legislative requirement, and where it goes further than the law currently asks.